Mail separating and facing apparatus



Feb. 14, 1933. D. G. WERNER MAIL SEPARATING AND FACING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR, Jib? 6 [14 /772]:

Feb. 14, 1933, D G WERNER 1,897,093

MAIL SEPARATING AND FACING APPARATUS Filed May 5 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, J/a% 6 71617161:

A TTORNEY's.

Feb. 14, 1933. D. e. WERNER MAIL SEPARATING AND FACING APPARATUS Filed May 3 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I m 7 -11 I8 W 1 G 2 6 5 H v w w )1 Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNETE STATES DICK G. WERNER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI MAIL SEPARATING AND FACING APPARATUS Application filed May 31, 1930. Serial No. 458,248.

This invention relates to mail handling mechanism and has for its primary object the provision of a machineconstructed to handle mail which is preferably in the form of letters, and the machine. is particularly adapted for facing and sorting the letters in a manner which eliminates time and human labor.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a mail facing and sorting machine having means for acting upon a piece of mail whereby the same is selectively turned or transferred from one part of the machine to another as the lower edge of the letter is maintained in substantially parallel relation to the line of the edge of the letter at its point of beginning.

further object of the invention is the provision of an extremely simple and durable apparatus for carrying out the objects of the invention which may include a rotating nozzle having a head carried thereby which may be maintained in stationary relation with respect to the nozzle, or which may be rotated with respect thereto when the action desired upon the letter has been determined.

An other object of the invention is the contemplation of a novel electrically operated distributing device which forms a part of the machine made in accordance with this invent-ion and which is positioned adjacent a conveyor havin a plurality of ways into which it is desired to introduce the pieces of mail being distributed.

I is well known in this art that the distribution of first class mail in letter form is difiicult in view of the positions assumed by the letters and in view of the. fact that manually dis 'ributing the mail is slow and the human elem nt renders such distribution in it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mail facing and sorting machine which may be entirely electrically operated and which will perform practically all of the duties required by a perfect distributor.

Novel points of structure will be set forth and described during the course of the detailed specification referring to the accompanying drawings wherein but the preferred embodiment of the machine made in accord ance with this invention has been illustrated.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front plan view. of a mail facing and sorting machine made in accord ance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the machine taken on line III1II of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is another vertical cross section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatical view of the pick-up head and nozzle showing the same in two positions with respect to the point of pick-up.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the pick up head.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the distributor and a portion of the transferring member showing the letter being dropped into position for entrance into oneof the ways of the conveyor.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the letter being dropped into another way of the conveyor.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical view of the elecwhen it is desired to pass thesame to the various ways over the later described coni veyor belt. 7 g a Very often the letter is presentedagainst flanges 16 of 'trough'l l' with the stamp in i the lower left hand cornerinstead of in the 10 position shown in 1. If this be the case, it is preferred to face the letter 18 in,

an uprightposition before it is sentalong the conveyor to the cancelling machine. In

other instances it is not necessaryzto turn,

. the letter 18 and itlniustf be .carried over from the trough 14 to the distributor and f lodged thereonwith theflbottom edge thereof in substantially the sainhoiizoiital position f' as it was at the point ofg 'beginning; Ac-- cordingly, the transferring member made in accordance-with this invention has structure associated therewith which acts 'upon the.

letter 18 in the manner desired,

The transferring member is actuated bya motor 24. Thefconnection to the fan 22- should be in the form of a conduit'26 through which is drawn the 'air to S39 create a suction-at'the piclreup end ofnozzle 20 suflicient to support a letter 18. To ro-' tatenozzle320. this same motor 24 is1-provided with-a worm gear.28fup0n itssshaft-l which is inmesh with a spurge'ar-32 riga V idly aflixedito the rotatable: section 34 of conduit 26.passing through: a bearing 36 supported by. the member 121. An additional bearing 38 maintains the section 34; in'proper alinernent at the end where joins conduit 0 26. "A sleeve projecting intocon'duit 26 and 1 into section=3t thereof permits rotation with out leakage and so long:asthe-Inotorj24 is running air* will be drawn through-the con- 7 r 1 duit andthemovable section'34 thereofand,

2 the nozzle 20 will be "caused to rotate.

- The pick-up end of nozzle 20 rotates; ina vertical plane which lies close enough to the face of. letter 18,5whichihas been moved i -against fiangesi16 of troughfl; to create a .5 suction thereon of sufiicientstrength to holdthe letter'18 and draw it with n'ozz'le 120 as it moves from infront oftro'ughlfl 'to-the I Theznovelly constructed distributor which 5 acts upon the letter 18 to wipe it'from'it's engagement with the noIZZle QO may include "a r-plurality of plates40, each of-whichis pro ed along their lower.edge-to allow-them to be "Q individuallyfandselectively moved to an 'anglewwhich permits positioning the letter As shown in the drawings, these, plates 40 overlie a conveyor belt 44 which may be Obviously, pinion48 is rigidly searound whichmay pass the belt 44:

There-may be anynumber of plates 40 and" i to efliciently carry out the invention, a like number of plates 5iextending longitudinally of belt limay be provided above said .belt'to divide the same intoa pluralityof ways, each of which may lead to predetermined locations where letters addressed to like locations maybe assembled "Manifestly; a letter 18 may ebe' directed into the proper way above belt 44 19; inanipulation of the plates 40..

A; l bQmTda hayin manually operable keys58,* and 62 is provided at a convenient location" for the operator to actuate the parts -.of this 'machine 7 which 'ar'e'lmovable 7 7 Y through the' -employment' of electroinagnets. r 20 is a substan -2 tially arcuate nozzle madeiof tubular mate rial and connected to a suction fan 22 which" Inthe case of the movement of plates 40, two of thesame-have been illustrated in a diagramm'aticalmanner in Fig. 9, and while anynuinber of plates 40 may be'used, two is suflicientto illustrate the. point of invention.

' f Each of plates 40-whic h is pivot ally mounted along its lower edge has an 1 arm 6% ex- 1 tending to a point adjacent'solenoids 66,-onc "of which is provided' 'for each arm 64." When the solenoids-66 are energized by depressing keyfiOor. 62 as the case may be, the appropriatecoacting arm 64is' pulled thereagainst and the plate 140 acted-uponliythe arniis 'moved to a forwardly: angled position such as that shown by the central platej lO in Fig.

circuit-closed by .key 62, it will be seen that energy passing'froin the sourceof'supply 68 will passialong-wirer70to wire 72 and to contact-point '74: which, when key 62is depressed, will engage vthe lower end thereof andcause electrical energygto pass into wire 7 6 conductively carried by the stem of key 62. 1 From this point the: current passes into wire 78,51 to wire 'andthejnce into the right hand solenoid- 66 to; energize thesame. To

complete the circuit1wires 82 and 84 carry ductor 88 from whence it returns to the source of supply 68. Each of inovableplates 40 is actuated through the useioffa similar'ci-ra cuit, and after the solenoid has released "its hold upon thefplate tofniaintain itin the angledposition; a spring 90 may be utilized thecurrent to wire 86 and then to a con to return thesame' to the point of beginning.

The opening 92'throughsupport l2 may be employed asialimiting stop inboth directions for the movement ofplates 40.f,When nozzle-20. reaches plate 40'the letter 18 carried 7 7 V thereby will extend on either side of slot f lSibetWeen aipredeterininedset ofplatesAlQ 42 to'be' engagedby the'inner face of plate noid 112.

and as the nozzle 20 continues to move, letter 18 will be pulled therefrom and will drop to a position upon conveyor 11.

To carry out the features set forth above and with particular reference to the structure associated with the nozzle 20 by means of which the letter 18 is transferred to the distributor in either one or two positions, reference will now be had to the details of said structure which may include a head 91 which is mounted for limited rotary movement upon the free end of nozzle 20. This head 9 1- directly engages the letter 18 and movement longitudinally thereof is precluded by the employment of a slot 96 formed through head 91 adjacent one end thereof and extending but part way therearound. A pin 98 projecting into slot 96 from nozzle 20 precludes longitudinal movement, yet permits head 91 to rotate as pin 98 passes through slot 96. A collar 100 mounted for rotation upon nozzle 20 is connected with head 94 by an endless belt 102 to set up relative rotation at a predetermined time hereinafter set forth. Belt 102 in the instance shown is wound about head 91 and collar 100 so that friction maintains the same in position thereon. If desired, the belt 102 may be otherwise secured or fastened to the two members without altering the operation.

As shown in Fig. 10, a resilient member such as the spring 104: exerts a pressure upon collar 100 which is transmitted through belt 102 to head 9 1 in a manner which maintains one end of the slot 96 against pin 98 carried by nozzle 20. One end of spring 10a is. secured to nozzle 20 while the other end thereof is attached to collar 100. Vhen the parts are in the relation shown in the drawings, especially Fig. 1, and collar 100 is being rotated by nozzle 20, head 9-1 will not be rotat-ed with respect to nozzle 20 as it is moved from the point of pick-up to the point of release. Letter 18 is reversed by the rotation of nozzle 20 only, and by holding head 94 against relative movement, the stamp, which is positioned in the lower left hand corner at the point of beginning, will be in the upper right hand corner at the time of release. The action of the machine just set forth in the one normally taken thereby without manipulation of the key board, insofar as key 58 is concerned.

hen a letter 18 is presented against flanges 16 of trough 14 with its stamp in the upper right hand corner, it is desired not to reverse the same and as soon as this point has been determined key 58 is pressed to actuate a pawl 106 which is pivotally mount J ed upon shaft 108 extending through support 12 where it carries an arm 110 in operative relation with a solenoid 112. A spring 11a may be utilized to normally maintain pawl 106 out of engagement with the sole- When key 58 is depressed, electrical energy will pass from a source of supply 68 to wire 70, thence to conductors 116 and 118 to a contact 120 which is engaged by the lower end of key 58 which carries wire 122 connected with solenoid 112. From solenoid 112 the electrical energy may pass back to the source of supply 68 through conductors 124 and 126 as well as line 88. Thus the circuit is closed, the solenoid is energized and pawl 106, stationary with respect to rotating nozzle 20, is brought into engagement with a shoulder 128 formed on the periphery of collar 100. Manifestly, this action stops the rotation of collar 100, and as nozzle 20 rotates, relative rotary movement will be imparted to head 91 through the intermediacy of belt 102. A cam-face 130 formed integrally on the periphery of nozzle 20 adjacent collar 100 and in the path of a portion of pawl 106 is adapted to force pawl 106 out of en gagement with shoulder 128 immediately after letter 18 is wiped from head 94 by one of the plates 10. This action takes place even against the force exerted by solenoid 112 and as soon as pawl 106 is carried out of engagement with shoulder 128 spring 10 1 will carry head 94: back to the point of beginning through its action upon collar 100 and belt 102. Thus when the nozzle 20 again reaches the point of pickup in front of trough 14; it will be possible to cause the same to carry a letter 18 to the point of release in either one of the two ways hereinbefore described. The engaging faces of shoulder 128 and pawl 106 are constructed to preclude release until the proper time, even though solenoid 112 has been deenergized by the release of key 58.

This mail handling machine receives letters in its trough which are in any one of four positions. The letter may be face or back forward and the stamp may be in the upper right hand corner or the lower left hand corner, or, in the case of the back being toward the front, the stamp will be in either the upper, left hand corner or the lower right hand corner, viewing the letter from the pick-up end of the trough. It is plain to be seen that once handled by this machine the letters are in two separate bundle classifications and may be fed directly to the concelling machine without further handling.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A mail handling machine comprising a feed trough, a conveyor, a transferring member having a nozzle disposed between said trough and conveyor, and structure associated with the transferring member to act upon a piece of mail including a head mounted upon the nozzle of said member for limited rotation relative thereto.

2. A mail handling machine comprising a feed trough, a conveyor, a transferring nozzle between said trough and conveyor, a head j mounted onisaid' nozzle for limited rotation ment limiting stop to preclude movement "of said head in a direction} transverse to the relative thereto and means-including a moveplane of rotation.

" ferring nozzle be'tween said trough and con veyor, a head mounted on said nozzle for limited rotary movement ,With 7 respect thereto, and means to rotate said head (with respect to the nozzle as the nozzle is being rotated.

-- 4. A mail handling machine comprising a feed trough, a co nveyor,' a rotatable transferring nozzle between said'trough and conveyor, a head mounted on 'sa1d nozzle for rotary movement with respect thereto and "meansto selectively preclude such rotary movement.

5'. mail handling machine comprising. a I feed trough-,ca conveyor, a rotatable transferring IlOZZlEbGtWGBII fSalCl trough-andcon- 7 .veyor, a head rotatablyrmounted on said nozzle, means to normallyholds'aid head against ,relativerotation Withthe nozzle as "thein ozzle is rotated and means associated with said holding means to selectively engage the same as the nozzle is rotated. j V ,c a

to cause-relative rotation of head and nozzle said trough to the conveyor, a 'h'eadrotatably mounted on saidnozzle an'dmeansto normally hold: said head against relativerotation with the nozzle as the-:nozzle is rotated eluding a collar carried bylthenozzlejand a Connecting "element tween said collar and head.

' A mail handling machineilcomprising' 5;

feed trough, a conveyor, arotatab'le transierring'nozzle to carry pieces'of'mailirom said 2 trough to the conveyor, head 'jrotatably mounted on" said nozzle andmeans to normally hold said head against'- .-rel-ative rotation a with the nozzle as the nozzle is rotated including a .collarcarri'edby the nozzle and a yield'ably er'ert a' holding pressure} upon the connecting element betiveen "said" collar and head, said collar havlng a spring therein to 3 head through the connecting' element,

:8; Amail handling machine comprising feed trough, a conveyor, a rotatabletransferring memberto. carry pieces'of mail from the" trough to said conv e yor said transferring 'member having means including an electro- V. 6. Amail handling machine comprising a feed trough, a conveyor, a rotatable'trans ferring nozzleto carry pieces-of mail from member'- to: carrypieces of mail fr om the trough tosaid conveyor and a distrlbutor having a plurality of slotted tiltableplates selectivelyoperable to direct-themail into x l r V v any of said Ways, said transferring member" 3. A mail handling-machine oomprising' a feed trough, l a; conveyor;- arotatalole transpassing through said slotas the piece of mail isremoved-th'erefrom. l

memben to V. carrypiece s of mail from the trough to said conveyor and a distributor comprising a, plurality'of plates 'movable intolth'epath oftravel ofthe'piece of mail toremove the same from said transferring me'mb'erjas' it moves past the plates; I

" p 11. "A mail handling-machine comprising afeed trough, a conveyor, apluralityof ways formed above said conveyor, atransferring member to carry-kpieces of-mail' frointhe trough to said conveyor'yand a distributor comprising a plurality of plates. each pivotally mountedcfor selective movement into the pathoftravel ofvthe'piece of mail'and transferring member as they move past saidplates. 7 12. A mail handling machine comprising a feed trough,-'a-conveyor, a plurality of Ways formed above said conveyor, amovable transferring member-to carry pieces of mail from V the trough to said conveyor and a distributor comprising a plurality of plates pivotally mounted-at their lower edge and means to selectively move said plates. about said pivot including an arm, a solenoid anda manually oprable; keyboard "having keys thereonj to :close a current to energize said "solenoid whereby said plates are 'moved' about their pivotal'point the path of travel of said trans v sferringmember passing through the, major plane of said plates when set to receive pieces of mail fromithe'transferring member. I A, 13, A mail handling machinecomprising a "feedtrough, aconveyor', a plurality of Ways 'gformed above said conveyor, a, transferring member to; carry pieces of mail from the *troughto said conveyor and. a distributor 'compr ising a plurality ofplates positioned; in'the'path of travel'of saidtransferring member towipe said'piece'of mail from: the transferring member as thej same moves by pastsaid plates whereby the piece of'mailis selectively directed into anyone of said Ways.

'14. In a mail facing" and sorting machine, ai rotatable transferring nozzle, .aconveyor having ,a'p'lura'lity. of ways formed-there above and-a distributorjfor receiving a piece of "mail from said transferringnozzle and selectively directing the same; into anyone of said Ways including a series of, platespiv- I otall ylmoun ted and spaced apartattheirbot tom edgeto-Tfor'rn continuations of said Ways and meansfor pivotingsaid'plates to close the same along the tops thereof to selectively 'jpr'esentan entrance intoany one or said Ways; 15.- InIa"mail facing 'and'sortingmaohine; a;

rotatable transferring nozzle, a conveyor, a distributor to receive pieces of mail from the transferring nozzle including a plurality of plates selectively movable to an inclined position with respect to the plane of the path of travel of said nozzle and piece of mail and an opening formed in each of said plates respectively to allow the passage of said nozzle as the piece of mail is engaged by the selected plate.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto atfix my signature.

DICK G. WERNER. 

